Go Faster GWT?

Reserved parking at the co-op for a special car

Yep it really is Lewis Hamilton's 2016 Formula 1 car

Today was spent at Greystones where John was leading a team to cut back willow growth along the central ditch. The renovations {exterior at least } at Greystones are looking good but I was not prepared for the standard of car parked outside the new Bourton Co-op. Ok it was second hand but only one year old and one 'careful' previous owner who only happened to be Lewis Hamilton {number confirms it}. Wasn't sure whether the WT have decided to go for speed {for their new transport}  rather than practicality but the slicks were the tyres fitted so it was a good job today was dry & sunny!

Needed 4x4 to load willow on, Formula 1 not too practical

Impressive sculpture outside roundhouse

My first view of Greystone's roundhouse, Tom's new home? 

The team {~12}was divided into 2 which covered two stretches of the central ditch cutting across 2 fields. On the far side of the ditch,  {enclosed by a stock fence} was SSSI land and of course most of the willow stands which needed cutting was on this side of the ditch. The good news was John was able to drive 4x4 to the fence line where we could load it with the willow once it had been deposited on the non SSSI land. Again the clearance of these willow stands will be good for the water voles who use this water causeway as one of their 'highways' on the reserve. At midday, having done my bit, I passed by the Greystones roundhouse which I had made a small contribution to earlier this year. 

Autumn clearance

Top of Ragged copse, self portrait?

Wednesday was spent with Mike at Sherborne, carrying out various clearance tasks. The first was at the 'Bat cave' where the vegetation, mainly Comfrey, had completely hidden the path. An aggressive use of the brush cutter soon uncovered the path down to the mine and revealed the steps. Had to replace/secure some of the stakes supporting the steps and all was ready for a visit by the Springwatch team on thursday. We then moved onto the top section of Ragged Copse where some path and fence line shrub clearance was carried out, continuing the work started earlier in the week. Not a bad mornings work especially since at the start of morning Mike had suffered 'a battering' in a fall in the estate yard.

Hyde Mill residence, we were downstream of this

Today was spent with the GWT at Hyde mill alongside an overgrown stretch of the river Dickler. John led the volunteer team which was divided into teams one checking previous work on this stretch of river and the team I was in was removing stands of willow providing shading detrimental to the growth of sedge grass etc. an important food source for water voles. Given limited available space to dispose of the large amounts of willow it was fortunate John had a trailer to collect the brash in and the nearby Meadow farm yard provided the area to unload  the material.

Ash 'bowled' over?

One half of the split Ash trunk astride the Pleasure Grounds fence

Tractor supporting Ash to pull it back over the fence

Wednesday was spent with Mike and James in the 'bowling alley' adjacent to the Pleasure grounds Sherborne. Some dispute  exists as to where the 'bowling alley' name came from with the Americans { second world war} making their claim and a document from the 19t century seemingly referencing it also. Anyway a part of an ash tree had split apart in this area and needed prompt attention before either the fence or cattle using the pasture were put at risk. The tractor with large trailer, 4x4 and full compliment of chain, pole, silky and other saws were all needed to carry out the task. Access was via ewe pen and several gates so not an easy journey. With some careful, skilful  chain and pole saw use combined with the tractor the split trunk{s} of the ash was safely brought to ground with no damage to the fence or us! All the brash was tidily piled up on the Pleasure grounds side of the fence and the wood blocked up and placed in the trailer. A full mornings work and hopefully the farmer appreciative of the work done.

Toby first to respond, for a change

No news on Barn owl boxes at Greystones today so took the 'boys' to Leckhampton Hill.

Summer constructions

Bridge and water course Temple Ham

Bottom rail still to fit 

Volunteering has become a bit more hit and miss these days and for a variety of reasons. The NT is behaving more oddly than usual {eg. Springwatch, what warped thinking is going on in the Peak district[Grouse shooting, myths]} and the WT opportunities have been less than the norm for me. However health permitting its still worthwhile taking what's on offer as todays session with GWT at Temple Ham proved. Richard led, what was the smallest WT team I've been part of {4}, to an open access pasture just outside of Bourton. Earlier work had already set up the large 'strainers' by the water course and gate which provided access via a small bridge to the 30-40  acre pasture where cattle would soon be grazing. Todays session was to erect a railed fence on the bridge and two sections of barbed wire fence alongside the open water course. The objective was to ensure the cattle would be prevented from causing excessive damage to the water course banks. While Richard led half the team setting up the barbed wire fences I with Andy set up the railed fence on the bridge. The other advantage in this wetland area is the relative ease with which the fence posts can be installed using the metal bar and drival. Always good to see the outcome of honest labour as well as a positive contribution to the protection of this environment for the foreseeable future.

Friendly Admiral!

Did manage to help the Bat trust and Mike/Maurice at the Sherbourne winter Bat roost in July/August. The first session in July surveyed and carried out initial construction in the Bat mine. While Mike and Maurice  did the necessary engineering in the mine I {with new walky talky for H&S use!} carried out some essential path clearing since the vegetation had all but overgrown access down to the mine. In the hot weather I made a friend with a red admiral which clearly was attracted to my honest sweat. We revisited the mine this wednesday where Mike and Maurice carried on the engineering work albeit hampered by 4 male bats which had made an early return to this roost probably hoping for first access to returning females! In fairly damp conditions outside I was engaged in digging out the area around the 'second' entrance to the mines to allow a previously engineered metal frame to fit. The objective was to seal this entrance from unwanted intrusion from a relatively new 'dark' group of people who are seeking to enter mines such as this without permission or regard to damage done to such important bat habitats. Sadly incursions in nearby cave systems have already taken place.

On a more positive note was treated this week, in my local area, to the sight of  a pair of greater spotted woodpeckers, a family of 3 kestrels hunting on the Crickley Hill scarp and a roe deer which had strayed onto the newly cut cricket pitch on Burrows playing field. My dogs ignored the deer clearly still thinking fondly of the Pembrokeshire beaches they visited in July.

Monkey pull followed by a gentle kicking!

Good spot on the windrush near Brassy reserve

Innovation at the cattle water station to help calves, nicely modelled  'kick net'

River wind rush, small waterfall from watercress beds

Detailed analysis of 'kick samples'

Spent today with GWT at a favourite spot, adjacent to Brassy reserve, the Aston farm watercress beds. The mornings task was to remove Monkey Flower plants and then to carry out some kick sampling to gauge the health {as indicated by micro invertebrates} of the watercress beds which lie alongside the river Windrush. On the way to the beds we passed by a cattle water station where John pointed out an innovation GWT had added to help the calves who were not getting a drink mainly because of their size. At the watercress beds John, task leader {Will joined later}, explained the task  and with waders on we happily stepped  into the cool waterbeds to carefully remove any Monkey flowers plants. Clearly extraction work in previous years had been effective since in just over the hour the Monkey flowers were all removed plus some ash and sycamore saplings which over shadowed the beds. This meant the 'kick sampling' of the waterbeds could begin in earnest with 3 teams of 3/4 each operating along one of three of the watercress beds. The method involved 'gentle kicking' of the water into the sample net at different locations for about one minute duration. The sample was then emptied into a trug before repeating the operation two more times. The contents of the trug was then carefully emptied into white trays containing clear water to allow identification of any micro invertebrates.  Against a list of specific invertebrates a count was carried out. In the sample my team collected ~ 100 shrimp were found along with several  blue winged olive, caddis fly plus an impressive Bull Head fish! Also spotted my first Beautiful Demoiselle of the season. Unfortunately had to leave before full analysis of samples was completed and a 'score' for the waterbeds was given. But on the strength of the sample I was involved with {from probably the 'least healthy looking' area }it should be at least a 6+.

Update on waterbed scores gives a reasonable 5,7 and 9 for each of the waterbeds sampled. Other countryside news this Saturday, on my early morning dog walk, revealed a green woodpecker plus 5 healthy fox cubs happily playing by their den.

Budgehill Blues...

Dad shows youngsters how to deal with the heat

Common Blue, section 3

Common Blue, section 5

Green veined white,section 5

Likes to make an appearance,resident brown Hare

Pretty good conditions for Budge Hill butterfly survey and 31 butterflies kindly flew within transect during my 50 minute survey. Vegetation within transect has grown apace since April and this is especially true on Budgehill Bank where yellow rattle has shot up along with various grasses. Cowslips have pretty much gone over and after a widespread search the 'Dukes' are conspicuous by their absence. Still 9 Speckled woods, 12 Large whites, 3 Small whites , 3  Common Blues, 1 Green-veined white, 1 Orange tip, 1 Peacock and 1 Red Admiral was a pretty respectable total. As well as an appearance from the usual Hare, 2 adult Buzzards came close one startled from an ash tree close to the trail.

Egrets and bats

Great White on the Broadwater

Camera shy, couldn't get closer than drystone wall

Wednesday at Sherborne was fairly relaxed probably because of the recent bank holiday but more likely due to the rangers seeking a respite from their increased activities in support of the current wildlife initiative. Mike did invite me to a brief visit to the 'kennels' bat roost where he carried out a minor but important 'carpet fitting' over camera cables. I witnessed the  lesser  horseshoe bats settling into their summer roost and saw the 'approved' camera installation which hopefully will capture some rare footage of bat 'pups' in June. On the return journey to the estate office we saw 2 little egrets and a great white egret on the Broadwater. I managed to get a long range picture of the rarely seen great white egret which proved to be even more sensitive to disturbance than the more common grey herons. The rest of the session was spent with James where I helped to pickup two 5 bar gates from Stow on the Wold, no mean feat but I did learn how to tell a left hand from a right hand gate!.

Also managed to see some of the motion cameras  footage where foxes, badgers, pheasants and deer showed up in numbers and proved less camera shy than might be expected. Looks promising for fitting trackers to the resident badgers and foxes.